Privacy impact assessment summary for the Canadian Heritage Rivers System

Description

The Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS) is a national river stewardship program established in 1984 to recognize and support the conservation of rivers with significant natural, cultural, and recreational value. The program is delivered collaboratively by Parks Canada, provincial and territorial governments, municipalities, Indigenous partners, and community organizations. CHRS activities include the identification and assessment of candidate rivers, the formal nomination and designation process, and ongoing stewardship and monitoring. These activities are implemented through a flexible, multi-phase approach—feasibility, nomination, and designation—adapted to each river’s context and partnership arrangements. The program supports the long-term stewardship of designated rivers.

 

Why a privacy impact assessment was completed

A Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) was conducted for the Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS) because program activities such as the assessment of candidate rivers, stakeholder and partner engagement, award processes, and ongoing stewardship and monitoring may involve the collection, use, and potential disclosure of personal information (for example, contact information and participant input). The collaborative and multi-phase nature of the program, involving multiple jurisdictions and partners, may also result in varied information flows and data-sharing arrangements. The PIA assesses and addresses potential privacy risks to ensure compliance with the Privacy Act and Treasury Board Secretariat requirements.

 

Additional information

No significant privacy risks were identified, as appropriate mitigation measures have been integrated into program design. These include limiting the collection of personal information to the minimum required, ensuring that all elements are described in standard Treasury Board Secretariat Personal Information Banks (PIBs), and restricting access to authorized individuals on a need-to-know basis. In addition, a Privacy Notice Statement is provided at the time of collection to inform individuals of all required elements regarding the collection, use, and protection of their personal information in accordance with Treasury Board requirements. Together, these measures reduce potential risks and support compliance with the Privacy Act and TBS requirements.

 

Related personal information banks

Treasury Board Secretariat Standard Personal Information Banks; Public Communications PSU 914 and Outreach Activities PSU 938.

 

For more information about this privacy impact assessment

In order to have access to the full PIA, please submit a formal request at the following link: Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) Online Request (apps.gc.ca).

 

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